Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action Friday.
Non-league
Bensalem 1, William Tennent 0
Brian Bock scored five minutes into the game, off an assist from Humza Baig, and that goal held up as the Owls picked up a nonleague win on the road to open up the 2024 season.
Bensalem’s one-goal win in its season opener was especially significant after last season when the Owls opened the season 2-4 with three of its first four losses by one goal.
By the Numbers:
First Half – Brian Bock (B) from Humza Baig, 5th minute
Coach Kevin Bock: “Our first 20 minutes were phenomenal – we were all over them. As the energy waned, we survived a bit, but we held strong. They’ve been working hard in practice, and it kind of carried over into the game, so that was good for us. It’s nice to be on the right side of a one-goal game for once. It was good for these guys to have the hard work play out for them. We have a long way to go, but I’ll take it.
“Angelo (Albanese) had the Tennent boys consistently pressuring our back line, which created some challenges, but our boys held strong. We got strong performances from our center backs (Tommy Hurst and Tyler Anderson) and a shutout from our goalie Matt Rowan. Also got strong performances in the middle from Humza Baig and Andrew Price while Tejas Sasan was all over the place on the offensive end.”
Importance of winning the season opener: “I haven’t done that yet – this is the first time. Last year we started off and had a lot of one-goal losses, so to turn around this year, and to all of a sudden have a one-goal win that turns in our favor is huge.”
Next up: Bensalem (1-0) plays at CB East on Tuesday.
Tennent (0-1) hosts Wissahickon on Monday.
Bensalem 1 0 – 1
Tennent 0 0 – 0
Central Bucks East 3, Archbishop Ryan 0
Nick Bonargo scored two goals in the final eight minutes of the first half, as CB East opened its season with an impressive road win at Ryan on Friday night.
Dan Frye scored in the second half for the Patriots.
By the Numbers:
First half:
Nick Bonargo (CBE) from Dan Frye, 32nd minute 1-0
Nick Bonargo (CBE), 36th minute 2-0
Second Half:
Dan Frye (CBE) from Jack Thibeault, 56th minute 3-0
Coach Josh Isaacsohn: “Credit to coach Ryan (Haney) and his squad for a tremendous and hard-fought opening match. Both teams came out strong and battled for the first 10-15 minutes with the tilt of the game slightly in East’s favor with a few opportunities on net. However, Ryan’s defense kept solid position, and the GK made some excellent saves. Around the 15 to 20-minute mark, the energy and possession then tilted toward Ryan for a bit with various passing strings, quick runs and tough nosed plays.
“The team as whole, with many players contributing, saw the game through to a shutout. This truly was a whole team effort,and the coaching staff is really looking forward to seeing this squad develop.”
–Game recap: “At the 32-minute mark, forward Nick Bonargo scored a beautiful left footed shot, after pulling it back with his right, assisted by Dan Frye. About 4 minutes later (36 min), Aidan Pasternak and Jeremy Salazar connected for a very creative play to goal which almost went in. Nick Bonargo followed the play which resulted in his second goal of the match.
“As the game continued, East scored its solidifying third goal of the match by Dan Frye (58 min) off a clever assist by Jack Thibeault.”
Next up: The Patriots (1-0) host Bensalem on Tuesday.
CB East 2 1 – 3
Ryan 0 0 – 0
Upper Moreland 3, Harry S. Truman 2
Gabe Hendrickson led the way with two second-half goals, as the Golden Bears overcame a 2-0 halftime deficit for the come-from-behind win over Truman on Friday.
Anthony Reis scored UM’s third goal.
Coach Justin Allegra says: “(We received) solid defense played by Bobby Barrett and GK Jacob Snyder.”
Next up: UM (1-0) hosts Pottstown in another nonleague game on Wednesday.
Truman (0-1) is off until Friday when it plays at Springfield.
Truman 2 0 – 2
UM 0 3 – 3
Souderton 5, Methacton 0
Drew Kerns scored three minutes into the game on an assist from Lukas Sailer, and Souderton was off and running on its way to the shutout win over visiting Methacton on Friday afternoon.
Cam Taylor, Liam Shaw, Tannor Wizneski and AJ Pisoni also scored goals for the Indians.
Kerns, Nolan Watkins, Shaw and Nicolas Barrales added assists. Tyler Alderfer earned the shutout in goal.
By the Numbers:
First half:
Drew Kerns (S) from Lukas Sailer 1-0
Cam Taylor (S) from Drew Kerns 2-0
Liam Shaw (S) from Watkins 3-0
Tannor Wisnewski (S) from Liam Shaw 4-0
Second half
AJ Pisoni (S) from Nicolas Barrales 5-0
Souderton coach Frank Demas: “We started the game off quickly, scoring three minutes in on great assist from Sailer and a goal from Drew Kerns. Methacton’s goalkeeper played an outstanding game. They also played a very good second half and never gave up.”
Next Up: Souderton (1-0) hosts Pope John Paul II on Tuesday night.
Methacton 0 0 – 0
Souderton 4 1 – 5
Quakertown 2, Palisades 1
Taylor Landis scored two times, as Quakertown outlasted Palisades in an all-Upper Bucks nonleague opener on Friday afternoon.
Jackson Kalinowski and Otani Ekpe added assists.
Keeper Sean Gillin had five saves in goal for the Panthers.
Coach Steven Hippauf: “It’s always nice to start the season with a win, but more importantly, it was about the team’s performance which I thought was very positive. We created many chances that on another day we would have taken. Thankfully, we got just what we needed to pull off this win.
“Our seniors led the way today; however we had a strong showing from sophomore center back James Burger, who was playing in his first varsity game.
“It is a long season, and we are focusing on taking one game at a time. Our attention turns to a tough game away at Neshaminy on Tuesday.”
Next up: Quakertown (1-0) plays at Neshaminy on Tuesday.
Wissahickon 5, Southern Lehigh 0
The Trojans scored five times, with goals by four different players, jumping out early on the way to a 5-0 shutout win over Southern Lehigh in Friday afternoon’s season opener.
Athan Zografakis scored three minutes into the game for Wissahickon. Lex Agou made it 2-0 just before halftime with his first goal. Then in the second half, Chanwoo Kim, Agou and Andrew Gajan all scored goals.
Agou and Kim both added assists, as did Charlie Fortescue, Jofi Contreras, and Luke Frankenfield.
Michael Malton recorded the shutout in goal with five saves.
By the Numbers:
First Half –
Athan Zografakis (W), 3rd minute 1-0
Lex Agou (W), 38th minute 2-0
Second Half
Chanwoo Kim (W), 50th minute 3-0
Lex Agou (W), 65th minute 4-0
Andrew Gagan (W), 74th minute 5-0
Next up: Wissahickon (1-0) plays at William Tennent on Monday.
Wissahickon 2 3 – 5
Southern Lehigh 0 0 – 0
Springfield Twp 3, Holy Ghost Prep 1
Henry Drapkin scored twice in the second half to break a 1-1 tie, as Springfield went on the road to score an impressive nonleague win at Holy Ghost Prep in the season opener for the Spartans.
Harry Bates, who assisted on both of Drapkin’s goals, opened the scoring for Springfield with a penalty kick in the 14th minute.
Holy Ghost’s Thomas Walsh tied the game late in the first half.
By the Numbers:
First Half:
Harry Bates (S), PK, 14th minute 1-0
Thomas Walsh (HGP) from Matt Cole, 35th minute 1-1
Second Half
Henry Drapkin (S) from Harry Bates, 55th minute 2-1
Henry Drapkin (S) from Henry Bates, 59th minute 3-1
Next Up: Springfield (1-0) plays at Wissahickon on Wednesday.
Springfield 1 2 – 3
HGP 1 0 – 1
La Salle 1, North Penn 0
The Knights came up just short in Friday’s non-league opener against PCL and district power La Salle, but they gave the Explorers all they could handle before falling.
Coach Chris DePeppo: “We lost 1-0 in a very even match. La Salle is very strong, and they have tremendous pace. We knew this would be one of our toughest matches, and it’s a brutal opening game, but we went toe to toe, and I was really pleased with our effort. We know what we’re capable of, so we’ll bounce right back, I am sure.
“We have three games next week (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday)- a crazy schedule with three straight away games, but La Salle is a team to watch for.
Next up: The Knights (0-1) play at rival Lansdale Catholic on Monday.
North Penn 0 0 – 0
La Salle 1 0 – 1
West Chester Rustin 2, Plymouth Whitemarsh 0
Rustin broke open a scoreless tie with a goal late in the first half and then put it away with another goal in the second half for the shutout win over PW.
Logan Brock recorded nine saves in goal for the Colonials, who also saw strong defensive performances from senior Andrew Daoud and Jackson Budin. Senior captain Myles Kaye also put in a strong showing on both sides of the ball.
Next up: PW (0-1) hosts Garnet Valley in another nonleague game on Tuesday.
PW 0 0 – 0
Rustin 1 1 – 2
St. Joseph’s Prep 1, Upper Dublin 0
The Prep scored a second-half goal, and that was enough to hold off the Flying Cardinals in Friday’s non-league opener.
Next game: Upper Dublin (0-1) plays at West Chester Rustin on Monday.
Upper Dublin 0-0 0
St. Joe’s Prep 0-1 1
Northwestern Lehigh 4, Pennsbury 0
Next Up: Pennsbury (0-1) looks to bounce back Tuesday at Faith Christian Academy.
Lower Moreland 3, Devon Prep 1
Next up: LM (1-0) is on the road Tuesday for another nonleague game against Franklin Towne Charter.
Faith Christian Academy 2, Central Bucks West 1
Next up: The Bucks (0-1) look to bounce back Thursday at Plymouth Whitemarsh.
About the Author
